[Bob Stark]

Docta,

I had the Selah Tempestas for 6 months a few years ago.  Thought it was going to be the speaker to downsize to.  My brother now owns them and loves them.  BUT...the speakers I mentioned in the above post, Spirit 1, are quite a bit better sounding in all ways.  If you want a speaker that doesn't need a subwoofer to give a full sound, and still has detailed, but never harsh mods and highs, and very lifelike dynamics, it is the one.  You could upgrade other components as much as you wanted and it will just improve the overall sound to go along with it.  Tremendous soundstaging, beautiful miss and highs, with crunching bass, that will play VERY powerfully at any volume.  Perfect monitors for home theater system, too.  That's all I'm going to say.  Good luck on your quest.

[Doctacosmos]

Dr Bob, as this is my thread and it seems to have generated quite a few views thanks to the home page fleshing out active threads,I’d like everyone who reads through this and might consider taking their time to look up aether audio to know I have already done so and through my lengthy observations ( surely didn’t need to be lengthy) I must suggest suggest to everyone to steer clear of the company. The owner did supposedly make a good speaker but owes a lot of people a lot of money. I think any other subjective outlook on the matter at hand should see it more objectively as the proof is in the pudding they say.  I for one, am always open to hoping the best for everyone.  That being said I’d love to see the company start putting already built speakers up on eBay.  Personally, I wouldn’t purchase until I read some reviews but a lot of smaller companies like his just buy prefabricated drivers and then build nice cabinets and crossovers anyways I don’t know what would make his so special that I’d choose to take a chance on him over another

[Sink1]

Docta,

Welcome.  Just joined today too.  I would consider ascend acoustics sierra 2, which are in the same company as the Salk bookshelves with the raal ribbon tweeter mentioned earlier.  IMO, for the money, they are hard to beat.

[Bob Stark]

Hey Docta,

I agree with everything you said.  Bob's had problems with money and had investors for awhile, but ran out.  He is an extremely small outfit with the concommitant problems on the cash flow, BUT...he now has a new investor lined up.  The money on hand was the problem, and not that he was lacking scruples.  AND...he knows a lot and makes an exceptionally fine speaker.  If you like great sound and are willing to take a chance on a small company, you will be rewarded with sound you didn't think you could afford.  Bob is not just another schmuck that cobbles together a speaker with drivers, a cabinet and a crossover.  His ability on adjusting and using a waveguide alone makes it something special, but he's also designing the crossover with intelligence and using the correct size drivers for the box size to get the maximum gain in sound at all usable frequencies.  His speaker just don't break up at any volume level while sounding like live music with real instruments.  Unbelievable!  If you or someone else took a chance on an early pair, you would receive way more for your money than most any other speaker--and the sound is near SOTA.  If you ever wanted the perfect speaker to take outside on nice days, or if you're having a party, where are you going to find a speaker with pro sound abilities, audiophile sound qualities, and ease of moving to a different location and setting up a first class system?

[who?me?]

Dr C.
I have had a pair of DALI floor standers for 8 years, they have the ribbon tweeter.
first, I would not run them with Class D b/c of the ribbons - too much sibilance/fatigue.
Second, SS amps are OK with ribbons, but the real deal is using tubes at least in the Pre, if not in the Pre and Amp.
The tubes make the tweeters ethereal, light, airy, no harshness at all.

Next, the Dynaudio tweeters - Esotar - are world renowned for the clarity and detail you are after, without harshness.
Again, if the Esotars are too harsh, putting tubes in the line up will help if not solve the problem.

But overall, the sound coming out of speakers is due to the synergy with the amp, so maybe zero in on the amps you are using.
good luck,

[who?me?]

the other reason I would suggest tubes for amp is that:

1. you have double subs: so your bookshelves dont need to go that low and taught.
the tubes will give you a sweet midrange and top end, even if you use ribbons.
And your subs will cover below 50hz.

2. there are a lot more speakers with tweeters these days, and affordable, such
as Golden Ear, Martin Logan, etc ..

[WGH]

Speakers are so personal, I have heard speakers that people love that I find unlistenable. One of the best times I ever had in my audiophile journey was my first trip to Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. RMAF was the first time I heard the affordable Salk and Fritz speakers and the outrageous Vandersteen Model 7. I went to RMAF a couple of years in a row before deciding on Salk. Your journey will probably be much different, there are a lot more audio shows these days so the odds are good there will be one a couple of hours away either by air or road. A bonus is you get to meet other AC members that will introduce you to excellent equipment you never heard of and hall conversations such as "Have you been to room 214, WOW!". If you fall in love at a show, make an offer on the display model, many manufacturers will give you a deal. I always find it easier to listen, compare then decide on equipment than take a chance on unheard designs.

[audioengr]

Look for these monitors used.  Great bass for a 2-way. $8K new now. The best small speaker on the planet IMO:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=149288.0

Steve N.

[Doctacosmos]

Just going to say no to the aether.   Just not for me.....unless he wants to send me a pair to review.

I’d love this format if it allowed me to reply while also seeing the thread.  My intentions were to welcome the new member that welcomed me too but I forgot his user name!   Anyways hi to you and thanks for the welcome.  So far I’m loving the site.  A lot of old threads but there still seems to be plenty to learn about and plenty of people hanging around with some great advice!

Speaking of great advice thanks for the advice on the vapor audio I’m very intrigued however I doubt there’s a chance I’ll ever find a used pair and retail is way out of budget. I also wouldn’t know whether to choose the black or white!  Black sounds more my thing but also white draws out more detail which is s big plus to my ear. I saw your post about making the cables and was intrigued but it’s completely out of my budget.   

While I do worry about a softdome I’m also a big fan of coaxial drivers and I’ve been looking at the omega speakers and they look absolutely fantastic.  Love the idea of a big midrange driver throwing out a lot of sound.  Speaking of which, i watched an avshowreports video and the 2016 gold show award for sound  went to a room that had MAD grand maestro supreme speakers.   Anyone have any experience with them?
I really do need to go to a show I guess lol.   The EVOKE Eddie has me super intrigued as well havin a planarmagnetic midrange.  I’m also a headphone guy and chord products absolutely draw out so much emotion and detail with planars.

[Doctacosmos]

Speakers are so personal, I have heard speakers that people love that I find unlistenable. One of the best times I ever had in my audiophile journey was my first trip to Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. RMAF was the first time I heard the affordable Salk and Fritz speakers and the outrageous Vandersteen Model 7. I went to RMAF a couple of years in a row before deciding on Salk. Your journey will probably be much different, there are a lot more audio shows these days so the odds are good there will be one a couple of hours away either by air or road. A bonus is you get to meet other AC members that will introduce you to excellent equipment you never heard of and hall conversations such as "Have you been to room 214, WOW!". If you fall in love at a show, make an offer on the display model, many manufacturers will give you a deal. I always find it easier to listen, compare then decide on equipment than take a chance on unheard designs.

Already bugging my wife about it but man that would probably cut out a third of my budget

[I.Greyhound Fan]

If you get a chance, give a listen to PSB speakers. I have never found their tweeters harsh or fatiguing.  But YMMV.  Of course, electronics. source, cables and room all play a role.  I have tailored all my gear to a more organic, natural sound without fatigue.

[opnly bafld]

deleted

[Doctacosmos]

If you get a chance, give a listen to PSB speakers. I have never found their tweeters harsh or fatiguing.  But YMMV.  Of course, electronics. source, cables and room all play a role.  I have tailored all my gear to a more organic, natural sound without fatigue.

Metal domes aren’t all necessarily fatiguing but they always carry over s particular coloration I can’t stand.